I was curios if at some point in the future when you are tinkering with the format of the website, it would be possible to include a space within a members profile area to include a small icon to indicate they are a military service veteran or active duty member of the armed services as gratitude for their service?

Perhaps something as simple as a flag icon representing the country they served or a selection of branch of service icons.

I am not a veteran so this is not a self serving request but a way of recognizing and offering thanks to those who put their lives on the line for the freedoms we have today.

Thanking you in advance for considering this small token of appreciation.

Speaking from the pespective of a veteran, I'm ambivalent about the idea. Being in the military is just something I did many years ago. I don't wear my veteran status on my sleeve and am generally just as happy to not talk about my status. I usually don't even bring it up until some non-veteran wraps himself in the flag and starts acting like one of the chicken hawks. I do love asking them which branch they were in.

If you didn't "pay your share", you can pay it now. If you want to do something to support veterans, here are a couple suggestions:1) Encourage your representatives to FULLY fund the VA for what has been promised. Do you think it is acceptable to have a 10 month waiting period to get an appointment to find out if a medical condition is covered, much less get any treatment? (This is NOT an exaggeration.)2) Pay your taxes and don't complain about it. I still think the Haak plan had merit.http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19721031&id=2V40AAAAIBAJ&sjid=MJwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1863,5291349

As you stated about your time overseas, ditto describing my late father, a Veteran of the Korean conflict who like yourself seldom spoke of his service.

It wasn't till late in his life and unfortunately shortly before his passing when he opened up writing and publishing two fictional novels about how he survived the war told through a fictional character. ISBN-10: 1588511944. Nobody could have been prouder of that man than me.

I am also proud of my son, a 2007 graduate of the United States Naval Academy currently serving in the capacity of Naval Aviator driving a legacy F/A 18 C model Hornet off the deck of the USS Harry Truman.

You don't have to serve in the military to appreciate the military OR to thank a Veteran. I also need no guidance on the subject of helping Veterans, I know what to do and I fly the flag proudly.

Due to injuries acquired in Viet Nam, I have extensive experience with the Veterans Administration. I visit the outpatient clinic in Columbus OH, a dozen or more times per year. Years ago, you had the feeling that you were imposing upon them with your needs. Today, it's very different, they treat me with great respect and there is always someone anxious to be of service. I hope it's that way at all VA facilities! I realize that for someone trying to get in to the system, it may be a very different experience, due to a huge back log. I also know that they are making steps to improve that situation. I'm probably a bit bias, since my service connected injury means that I get priority treatment but I can tell you, it's not the same VA that we had 20 yrs. ago.

Gary Dotson wrote:Today, it's very different, they treat me with great respect and there is always someone anxious to be of service. I hope it's that way at all VA facilities! I realize that for someone trying to get in to the system, it may be a very different experience, due to a huge back log. I also know that they are making steps to improve that situation. I'm probably a bit bias, since my service connected injury means that I get priority treatment but I can tell you, it's not the same VA that we had 20 yrs. ago.

Based on what I have seen and heard, I think your experience is similar to the treatment most get at the VA. I hope no one interpreted my comments above to suggest otherwise. My complaint is with the difficulty of getting past the gate-keepers that keep you out of the system. VA healthcare has 8 priority groups for eligibility. (By comparison, Dante only had 9 levels of hell.) The challenge is to get through the system to even get assigned to a group. As I said, 10 months is not an exaggeration. I am concerned that unless VA funding is increased enough to handle the big influx of the last decade or so, the VA will have to control their expenses somehow. The obvious way to do it without public visibility will be to bolt the doors and not let many others in.

Jim Becker wrote:I am concerned that unless VA funding is increased enough to handle the big influx of the last decade or so, the VA will have to control their expenses somehow.

You would never know the VA had budget constraints or shortfall funding on the horizon. The newest VA outpatient clinic in the country http://www.cleveland.va.gov/visitors/Parma.asp has the outward appearance of a Frank Lloyd Wright designed bank building and the interior presence of an art gallery.

Don't misunderstand me, patients deserve a facility within reasonable travel distance of home and a clean, comfortable, and safe building.

The multiple millions spent on architectural design and construction as well as the million dollar interior trappings in my opinion, could have been better spent on patients or pensions.

I am a frequent flyer at my VA hospital. Having NUMEROUS service connected disabilities. I have nothing but high marks for the current facility that i use. TOP of the line staff, service and care. Even though i have insurance and could go elsewhere, why would I. I don't think i could get it any better any where else. Plus, i think the VA staff go that extra mile, civilian doctors don't care too.

Jim, I understood what you were saying about issues "getting into the system". I recently read an article in VA's little magazine, that addressed the issue. The article said that they have made major software changes to dramatically speed the process. I guess we'll see!